A new study provides an understanding of the impacts of low-energy electrons which are known to cause DNA damage on humans.
Low-energy electrons (LEEs) are energies that compose of zero to fifteen electron volts. Although it is a common threat to DNA, few studies have focused on them. This time, Canadian and French scientists have collaborated to further our knowledge of these negative-impacting electrons.
The team led by Michael Fromm of the Université de Franche-Comté in Besançon, France was the first to create an improvised model of the cells that make up the DNA while being attacked by LEEs. Their model provides an amazing discovery how LEEs affect the DNA in its natural environment and ordinary scenarios.
"The fascinating point is that each time the close environment of DNA changes, new mechanisms of interaction of LEEs appear," Fromm told Science Daily.
The scientists analyzed the particular characteristics of a plasma, a tiny DNA particle. The small molecule was placed on a distinctive and flimsy strip the team devised. When an electron gun emitted rays unto the film, moving and active particles were produced. These DNA "pieces" are called anions.
Upon closer observation, the tiny DNA particles offer more clues on how DNA fibers break as well as the extent of the DNA damage which researchers are always trying to understand how to fix and avoid.
The findings of the research are very crucial step towards learning more about LEEs and how the electrons impact DNA. It provided a close to real experimental format for study and analysis. Further studies in this direction would seek to build on this new knowledge for the improvement of present uses of radiation to cure cancer.
Fromm said, "The way by which these electrons can damage DNA, and how much damage they inflict, quantitatively, is of major importance not only for general radiation protection purposes, but also for improving the efficiency and safety of therapeutic and diagnostic radiation therapy."
The study was published online in The Journal of Chemical Physics.
